Cameron Heyward actively pushed for veteran quarterback Russell Wilson to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason. Aaron Rodgers shouldn’t expect to receive that same courtesy.
Pittsburgh’s four-time All-Pro defensive lineman said on the Tuesday episode of his ‘Not Just Football’ podcast that he’s not going out of his way to pitch Rodgers on joining the Steelers.
‘Not Just Football’ co-host Hayden Walsh asked Heyward if he’d join Rodgers on one of the quarterback’s infamous ‘darkness retreat’ if it meant the quarterback would come to Pittsburgh.
Heyward responded, ‘I ain’t doing that darkness retreat. I don’t need any of that crap. Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t. It’s that simple. That’s the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that’s the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers. If you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don’t, no skin off my back.’
‘I just want to play football. I’m tired of talking about the quarterback situation. I’d rather have it done. I don’t know what ends up happening. I’m ready to move on into free agency. There’s too much going on.’
Steelers QB depth chart
The Steelers have one quarterback signed to their active roster as of the time of writing: Mason Rudolph, who returned to Pittsburgh on a two-year, $8 million deal.
Rudolph previously played for the Steelers from 2019 to 2023 and appeared in 21 games (13 starts), most of which were as a rookie. He spent the 2024 season with the Titans, appearing in eight games and starting five.
Heyward praised the Steelers’ decision to bring back Rudolph on his podcast, saying, ‘If we don’t sign a QB, and we go in there with Mason, we feel good about it. Excited to have him back.’
Latest Aaron Rodgers news
Rodgers has been a free agent since the Jets released him after the start of the new league year last Wednesday.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on his podcast Tuesday that Rodgers’ top choice is to land with the Vikings, though he added that a resolution to the Rodgers-Minnesota situation may not come for some time.
‘Do I think that that’s happening? Not today. Not next week. Do I think it’s out of the question? Not entirely. Do I think it’s likely? No,’ Schefter said.